Sequence stratigraphy and long-term paleoceanographic change in the Middle and Upper Ordovician of the eastern United States

Fourteen depositional sequences are recognized in the Middle and Upper Ordovician of the central and southern Appalachians and the Cincinnati Arch. Two of these began in the Whiterockian (W-a and W-b), six began in the Mowhawkian (M1 through M6), and six began in the Cincinnatian (C1 through C6). These sequences are typically characterized by an absence of lowstand systems tracts, relatively thin transgressive systems tracts that may contain distinctive facies in their lower part, and somewhat thicker shallowing-upward highstand systems tracts. The paper presents a preliminary correlation chart of lithostratigraphic units of this region based on sequence stratigraphic principles.